3. Weddings and Poker Day

Colette Rossant recalls how her grandmother acted as matchmaker - and the role of women in her family.

Published in 2001, 'Apricots on the Nile', subtitled 'A Memoir with Recipes' is a collection of the author Colette Rossant's recollections.

In 1937, five-year-old Colette arrived in Cairo from Paris with her Egyptian-Jewish father and beautiful French mother. When her father died, Colette's mother abandoned her daughter to the care of her wealthy grandparents. She soon settled into their luxuriant, food-centred lifestyle.

The memoir, accompanied by mouth-watering description of dishes, evokes old world Egypt.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.

Read by Barbara Flynn.

Producer: Liz Allard

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2001.